2. analog
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What phono pre am I looking for?

It needs to be quiet, fast, dynamic and not cost an arm and a leg, $1500? Plays nice with a VPI/dynavector 20x2 low without a sut. I listen and enjoy most everything but, the British Invasion, Willie Nelson, Gillian Welch and jazz take the cake. I have tubes, an LTA pre, decware set amp and omega speakers. 
The new channel islands peq-1 looks mighty fine and dusty uses the 20x2 as his personal cart, which can't be bad?  New or used no problem. 

128x128jmolsberg
lewm
12,567 posts
 
JLTi is probably a very nice phono stage for the money, but let's not pretend that it competes with really good phono stages in higher price brackets.  For Allen Wright and Joe Rasmussen, it was never their top of the line product.  AW preferred his tubed units, which of course cost much more money.  This is no insult to Chakster or the JLTi; I'm just keeping it real.  If you're on a budget in that price range, JLTi is probably a contender.  Phono stages that cost more are not necessarily "over-priced" by comparison.  I think AW's fully balanced RTP3C cost on the order of $10,000, and it was that good, by all accounts.  Still, I admire your enthusiasm, Chak.
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Thanks Lew
I like my $2500 WLM Phonata Reference better for LOMC, but it’s completely different design, it’s a current phono stage, with lundahl transformers inside.

But when people ask for the phono stage under $1500 the JLTi must be in the list for sure if the buyer is ok with just one input (to switch between MM/MC).

Also for vintage MM enthusiatst i do not know anything with the option described earlier and that’s the reason why our David (dlaloum) has been using JLTi for his amazing collection of the rare vintage MM cartridges.

In my opinion "normal" people are not buyin $10 000 phono stage or $15 000 turntables with $8000 cartridge from the start. 
bradf's avatar
bradf
324 posts
 
https://parttimeaudiophile.com/2014/03/07/the-lehmann-black-cube-se-and-the-ortofon-rondo-bronze/

https://www.cnet.com/news/for-the-vinyl-aficionado-the-lehmann-black-cube-se-ii-phono-preamplifier/
czarivey
5,754 posts
 
violectric phonostage designed to match and adjust to all cartridges and loads you can think of and fits within your budget.
jsm71
141 posts
 

Since you like tubes, check out Don Sachs' custom phono stage.  I have one and it is quite good, albeit MM only.  It can be had right at about $1k.  You could use a Decware SUT or have Don add a transformer for step up for less money. 

Either of those options limits future cart changes to similar cart output.  Getting a Bobs Devices SUT with a couple of gain options is more flexible, but of course more money.  The Don/Bob combo is what I use and I'd have to double the investment to get getter sound.  

BTW, I also have the LTA MZ2 preamp.  Don's phono stage mates with the MZ2 like a glove.

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